140 RING PIGEON, OR CUSHAT. 



although they may be rendered very tame when in 

 confinement, they shew no disposition to breed even 

 by themselves, much less with the common pigeon, 

 and upon being set at liberty, soon lose any little 

 attachment they may have shewn to the place in 

 which they were reared, and betake themselves to 

 their natural haunts to return no more. 



Taking the species as a typical example of the re- 

 stricted genus Columba, we find the bill of moderate 

 strength, the tip without emargination and gently 

 arched, the nostrils protected by a soft inflated mem- 

 brane ; the wings calculated for vigorous flight, the 

 second and third quills being the longest, and near- 

 ly equal ; the tail is square or even at the end ; 

 the tarsi short, and the feet adapted either for 

 perching or walking ; the outer and inner toes are 

 of equal length, the hinder rather shorter than the 

 tarsus, and not provided with so broad or flat a sole, as 

 that of the true arboreal pigeons. In size it is superior 

 to the majority of the Columbidae, measuring from 

 sixteen to seventeen inches in length. The horny 

 part of the bill is orange-yellow, the basal or soft 

 part impending the nostrils, covered with a white 

 mealy substance. The head, cheeks, throat, neck, 

 lower back and rump, are bluish-grey, those of the 

 side of the neck glossed with green, and bounded 



ly were destroyed by some accident during incubation. 

 This fact shews, that, under favourable circumstances, and 

 when the habits of the bird are attended to, a progeny may 

 be obtained. 



